So much to catch up on today! Get comfortable and enjoy a long and picture heavy post. Cooler weather is supposed to come in this week, and I am hoping for more seasonal temperatures, but where has the month gone?! It is turkey time around here, the wild kind. These guys have nothing to worry about from us this week, though. They know me, and come running when I step out to scatter some sunflower seeds for them.
It is always a delight to see the wildlife.
A predicted freeze last week prompted me to pull the more tender perennials off the veranda and move them to the Carolina room. They look a bit scraggly, and I need to clean up some of the dead leaves. I’ll get to that at some point.
In the kitchen, I brought in the Thanksgiving cactus, and it is putting out a profusion of buds. Every year, when I show this plant, inevitably someone says they have one but call it a Christmas Cactus. Well, those are actually different plants. The key is in the shape of the leaves, spiky points are Thanksgiving cactus. Softer, rounded points, and blooming in later December is a Christmas cactus. There is also an Easter cactus that blooms in the spring. All are very similar. See the difference on this site – Thanksgiving or Christmas Cactus?
I received a lovely violet as a thank you gift recently, and it is blooming. I haven’t had a violet like this in a long time.
While we are in the kitchen, I made a fabulous lasagne recently. I had a pound of ground chicken and needed an idea. I also had the cooked squash from my garden. I decided to use both, with the bottom layer having the squash and the top layer with the chicken. I cooked the chicken on the stovetop first, then combined it with half of a jar of Alfredo sauce. I layered the squash with the noodles and the other half of the bottled Alfredo sauce. The chicken was added, then the last layer of noodles. A generous helping of cheese was put on top, and the casserole was baked for 30 minutes. Yum!! I’ll be making this again.
I have to show you the turkey platter I’ve had for many years, that my mother had before me, and my grandmother had before her. Yes, we use it for the turkey on Thanksgiving, but I like to enjoy it for more than one day a year. So it goes on a large plate stand for the month of November. It sits next to the turkey candles I’ve had for years as well, plus another of my ceramic turkey collection.
I managed to get my Thanksgiving cards done, and sent a few out this past week. I used my embosser to add some texture to plain cardstock, and colored the raised portion with an ink pad. Laying elements makes pretty cards.
On some, I just left the embossing as it was. My stamps have some nice sentiments, and stickers add dimension.
All these pretty papers are from Impression Obsession (check out their 25% off sale on Thanksgiving stamps and dies!). They have a nice selection of fall sentiments too, like the Pumpkin Kisses one.
On all the cards, I stamped the envelopes too. The fronts have pumpkins, while the back says Thankful Thoughts.
In the sewing room, I did a quick project last week. These blocks were on the freebie table at retreat, made by my friend Jeani. She didn’t like the blocks, but I thought the colors would make a nice runner for fall. I removed the sashing from one side of two blocks, and put them together in a row. Then I loaded it onto the longarm for a quick quilting.
It seriously took more time to load it than it did to quilt it. I used a swirly pantograph and it was done in four passes. It has Warm and Natural cotton batting.
I quilted it with a medium grey Glide thread on top, with Bottom Line in the bobbin. Jeani had thoughtfully provided enough 2-1/2-inch strips of the sashing so I could bind it in the same print. I did that by machine as well.
Start to finish, about 3 hours. This will go in the boutique at our quilt show next May.
How did it get to be Thanksgiving week so soon?!! I need to check to be sure I have all the things I need for the big meal. I know I still need a little pie for My Sweet Babboo, but he needs to decide if he wants berries or pecans. The chocolate one for me is in the freezer. The turkey will come out of the freezer tomorrow and slowly defrost over the next few days in the refrigerator. I’ll start cooking on Wednesday, making our dressing and doing some other prep. I’ll make the Breakfast Casserole I always make for holidays and serve it on the turkey plates.
Download the recipe pdf – Holiday Breakfast Egg Casserole
I found this Snoopy and Woodstock Thanksgiving for my phone’s wallpaper and couldn’t resist putting it on there. My phone is smarter than I am. I downloaded it, got it on the phone. I didn’t even know I could do this! I am not at all sure I could do it again, so I might be looking at these pilgrims for a while. Oh, boy, now I have something new to play with. I got it from a website called Zedge, no affiliation. I got my Fox NFL ringtone from there too.
We are enjoying the last of the fall color, with the early morning light illuminating the trees. This picture was taken about a week ago. This coming week is forecast for some rain and wind, which will likely bring the last of the leaves down. The haze in the valley here is smoke, but I am happy to report that the fire just miles away is now reported to be 98% contained.
The driveway is almost done, with just a bit hanging on. But winter brings the neighboring mountain into view. This day there was some fog in the valley you can see between the trees. The smoke has mostly cleared now.
Have fun this week on the final countdown to the start of the holidays! What are you sewing, stamping, cooking and growing right now?
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From My Carolina Home 
That turkey platter from your grandmother is just a beauty! What a treasure it is to have those special items. Enjoy your holiday.
Carole, the turkey platter is a beautiful keepsake! Our turkeys are daily visitors with as many as fifty on some days. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hi, I bet your friend Jeani wishes she had her blocks back! The table runner looks very pretty. It looks like you had all hen turkeys in your yard? I was wondering where the Toms were. I drive through an area where I get to see wild turkeys sometimes and I’m always surprised at how big they are. We’re cheating this year and getting a prepared meal from Fresh Market. Oh well, there’s always Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love your TG cards, especially the sentiments and the stamping on the envelopes. And the turkey platter is adorable! What caught my eye was the framed leaf block under the turkey candles and small turkey. Such a perfect addition to your arrangement! Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
thanks for mentioning to take the turkey out tomorrow – I have been so side tracked this week I forgot about it. I need to put mine in the refrigerator tomorrow to start to thaw, I don’t remember how many pounds it was as hubby picked it up as he saw some on sale a week or so ago while he was out, about 12-14 pounds I think. I will bake pie on Wednesday – I don’t go over board for the meal, just us and one daughter will pop in for awhile.
How wonderful to have the turkey platter from past generations. It is absolutely gorgeous. I would want it on display all month too. Have a happy holiday.
Love seeing those wild turkeys that visit you so frequently, and the beautiful leaf views from your place, too! The orphan block runner turned out beautifully – someone’s definitely going to want that one. Beautiful turkey platter, it’s so lovely to have such a family keepsake like that. Happy Thanksgiving, Carole!
Yes, love seeing wildlife! Our Thanksgiving cactus bloomed a week or two ago and is all done already!
Looking forward to trying your Breakfast Casserole this Thanksgiving. Love how that turkey platter has been passed down through the generations. It’s a wonderful tribute to FAMILY
Things look and sound like you are ready. Me? I better kick things in gear.. I’s just getting harder every year. But…if we stop we rust!
2nd half of November – that year flew by
Just LOVE that turkey platter!!! I spent the afternoon on Saturday working on a kitchen towel on my embroidery machine, and stitching together strips for binding my Scrap Dance Quadrille. I’d like to get it stitched on today, but first need to make a hanging sleeve. I think I am ready to try to do a small bit of rotary cutting! Fingers crossed! Have a wonderful holiday.
Such pretty cards! You pay attention to the details that make a difference.
So many wonderful pics! Casserole looks amazing! Truly, “there is always something to be thankful for. Like the turkeys in the yard, the cards, the wonderful new table runner…..Thanks for all of this.
Your favorite time of year! I have been in Christmas mode this week, hoping to get one of the boxes shipped before Thanksgiving, so it gets to Connecticut in plenty of time, as Girl #2 is headed to Italy for Christmas. The wedding is set for July 5, so this is the last of the trans Atlantic travel!
Happy Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all the years of your blog. My house has beautiful quilts, tablerunners, floral arrangements and wall hangers for Thanksgiving thanks to you .
Special thanks for reminding me about the breakfast casserole.
Have a safe wonder filled holiday.
It’s looking lovely in your world. I’m loving the wildlife and your new table runner is a hit — well done, you with vision! I’m checking out your breakfast casserole to see if it is much different than mine. We’re trying to do a diabetic-friendly dinner this season as Rick’s mom is here, so I’d better start thinking!
Love your new tablerunner and those turkey placemats are beautiful. I’m currently working on 6 quilts for Christmas. One I just finished binding another I began binding. I also do this during football games. I have three more quilt tops done and those still need sandwiched and quilted. I have one more I‘m cutting out. I hope I can get them all done! I worked yesterday and today cleaning and organizing all my kitchen cabinets. Just something I have to do before the holidays every year. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this coming Saturday when our son and d-I-l can travel to our place. We are to get a Winter stored Wed and Thursday hear in NW PA. Enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone!!
We had some turkeys visiting for a while until we saw a coyote. We haven’t seen a turkey since! Your Thanksgiving cards are so pretty!
Carole, you are so talented in so many ways. I love your Sunday chats (even though it may be Tuesday before I catch up!). My adult daughters will be out of town visiting their in-laws’ sides of family, and my sister-in-law who typically hosts has bowed out. We will have quiet dinner – just the two of us – and a meal not turkey. We have always accepted the annual invitation, but it’s not a favorite meal for either of us. For me, it’s all about the sides. For Mr. P., the desserts. Happy Thanksgiving.